BRCC to examine feasibility of building manufacturing center

By Leigh KelleyTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Monday, March 11, 2013 at 8:33 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 11, 2013 at 8:33 p.m.

FLAT ROCK — The Blue Ridge Community College Board of Trustees gave the green light Monday to find out what would be involved with constructing a building for an Advanced Manufacturing Center/Brew Academy.

The board's Facilities Committee recommended exploring the option when it met last week. Chadwick S. Roberson, principal architect with PBC+L Architecture, told the committee that it could renovate an existing building on one of three possible sites along Highway 280 in the Mills River/Fletcher area.

He presented committee members with two one-story buildings and one two-story building for their consideration. The committee wanted to put the option of constructing a new facility for the Center/Brew Academy on the table.

Renovation costs associated with all the sites would range from $532,000 to $732,000, Roberson said.

BRCC President Molly Parkhill presented the committee's recommendation at the regular board meeting Monday. She said the college would begin doing its "due diligence" to learn firm costs associated with such a project. A possible location for a new facility, which mechatronics staffers said needed to be about 14,000 square feet in size, has not been discussed, Parkhill said.

The architect estimated that between 5 and 10 acres of land would be needed to accommodate the structure. He said at the committee meeting that the price tag associated with a new building could come in at between $5 and $12 million.

The Advanced Manufacturing Center will feature a simulated factory floor with interdisciplinary instruction in mechatronics and manufacturing technology, welding, machining and design programs in a modular open-entry, instructor-assisted format.

• Approved fee changes for the Allied Health/Emergency Services curriculum program from $60 to $70 for supplies. A new fee of $10 (to cover supplies) was also approved for the college's Continuing Education welding class.

• Approved a calendar change to move the college's spring break to coincide with break for Henderson County Public Schools in order to accommodate Early College High students.

<p>FLAT ROCK — The Blue Ridge Community College Board of Trustees gave the green light Monday to find out what would be involved with constructing a building for an Advanced Manufacturing Center/Brew Academy.</p><p>The board's Facilities Committee recommended exploring the option when it met last week. Chadwick S. Roberson, principal architect with PBC+L Architecture, told the committee that it could renovate an existing building on one of three possible sites along Highway 280 in the Mills River/Fletcher area. </p><p>He presented committee members with two one-story buildings and one two-story building for their consideration. The committee wanted to put the option of constructing a new facility for the Center/Brew Academy on the table.</p><p>Renovation costs associated with all the sites would range from $532,000 to $732,000, Roberson said. </p><p>BRCC President Molly Parkhill presented the committee's recommendation at the regular board meeting Monday. She said the college would begin doing its "due diligence" to learn firm costs associated with such a project. A possible location for a new facility, which mechatronics staffers said needed to be about 14,000 square feet in size, has not been discussed, Parkhill said.</p><p>The architect estimated that between 5 and 10 acres of land would be needed to accommodate the structure. He said at the committee meeting that the price tag associated with a new building could come in at between $5 and $12 million.</p><p>The Advanced Manufacturing Center will feature a simulated factory floor with interdisciplinary instruction in mechatronics and manufacturing technology, welding, machining and design programs in a modular open-entry, instructor-assisted format.</p><p>Students would have access to self-paced, hands-on learning in hydraulics, pneumatics, mechanics, electronics, microprocessors, communications, motors, drives, control systems, servo mechanisms, PLCs (programmable logic controllers, which automate tasks in electronics and manufacturing) and human-machine interface with dedicated, state-of-the-art equipment.</p><p>In other business, the board:</p><p>• Approved fee changes for the Allied Health/Emergency Services curriculum program from $60 to $70 for supplies. A new fee of $10 (to cover supplies) was also approved for the college's Continuing Education welding class.</p><p>• Approved a calendar change to move the college's spring break to coincide with break for Henderson County Public Schools in order to accommodate Early College High students. </p><p>Reach Kelley at 828-694-7871 or leigh.kelley@blueridgenow.com.</p>